Doing extreme sports is underrated.

I discovered the magic of extreme sports later in life—I started surfing at 27 and skiing at 30. Since childhood, I’ve loved all kinds of sports, from volleyball to basketball, swimming to canoeing. But nothing compares to the way surfing and skiing make me feel.

These two sports hold a special place in my heart because they allow me to fully disconnect from my worries and live completely in the moment. There’s something about extreme sports that forces you to be fully present—you must focus on your body, your surroundings, and your movement to stay balanced and, in some cases, to survive. In our modern world, we rarely experience this level of instinctive, survival-driven thinking. We spend so much time worrying about the future or dwelling on the past, but when you're carving down a mountain or catching a wave, there’s no room for any of that. You exist purely in the now.

I turned to surfing and skiing during some of the most challenging times in my life, and they helped me in ways I never expected. I only wish I had the “doing an extreme sport” tool in my mental health toolbox when I was younger.

Some of my most cherished memories with my partner are from our time spent surfing or skiing together. And when I imagine a happy moment in the future, I see us side by side on the slopes or in the ocean, with our kids joining us on the adventure.

If you’ve never tried an extreme sport, I highly recommend it. It might just become your own secret weapon for mental clarity, presence, and joy.

Cheers from Bali,

Content Sidika:)